Optical disc medium and data recording method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A molding and film forming apparatus  700  molds a disc substrate from a stamper  330  formed from an optical disc disc-master  320  and forms a coating film, for example, a reflective film onto the disc substrate, thereby forming a recorded optical disc  360 . A postscript apparatus  200  writes postscript information once onto an optical disc  340  formed by the molding and film forming apparatus  700 . As postscript information, a laser beam is irradiated to a predetermined interval of the optical disc  340 , a portion which is detected as a pit is formed, and an optical disc  350  on which postscript information  420  has been recorded is formed. Identification information which enables each optical disc  340  to be identified can be postscribed. The postscript information is recorded in a conventional format and the postscript information can be reproduced by an existing reproducing apparatus.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/343,226, filed Jan.30, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an optical disc medium and data recordingmethod and apparatus which are applied to an optical disc of, forexample, a read only (ROM) type.

BACKGROUND ART

The compact disc (CD) standard, which has become widespread nowadays,has been referred to as compact disc audio and is based on the standarddisclosed in the Red Book. On the basis of the Red Book, variousformats, including a CD-ROM, have been standardized, and what is calleda CD family has been constructed. In the following description, thedenomination “CD” generally indicates a disc of various formats includedin the CD family. An optical disc, such as a CD or the like, is used invarious fields as a recording medium for recording music data, motionimage data, an application program of a game or a computer, or the like.

A conventional forming system of an optical disc will be described withrespect to the case of the CD as an example. FIG. 10 is a constructionaldiagram of an optical disc forming system which is applied to the CD.The forming system of the CD mainly comprises: a mastering apparatus forforming a disc-master of an optical disc by a laser beam; and a moldingand film forming apparatus for forming a number of disc substrates byusing a stamper formed from the disc-master of the optical disc andforming a film onto each disc substrate.

The mastering apparatus to form a disc-master 320 of the optical disccomprises an EFM signal transmitting apparatus 500 and a laser beamrecorder 600. A molding and film forming apparatus 700 molds a discsubstrate from a stamper 330 formed from the optical disc disc-master320 and forms a coating film, for example, a reflective film onto thedisc substrate, thereby forming a recorded optical disc 360. The EFMsignal transmitting apparatus 500 reads information data to be recordedfrom a master optical disc 310 and outputs an EFM signal formed by EFM(Eight to Fourteen Modulation) modulating the read-out signal to thelaser beam recorder 600. The optical disc disc-master 320 is formed bycoating a photoresist as a photosensitive material onto a glass plate.The laser beam recorder 600 irradiates a laser beam according to the EFMsignal onto the optical disc disc-master 320. The photoresist film isdeveloped and in the case of a positive type resist, the photosensitizedportion is melted, a concave/convex pattern is formed on the photoresistfilm, and a pit train according to a predetermined format is formed onthe surface of the optical disc disc-master 320.

Subsequently, on the basis of the optical disc disc-master 320, a diecalled the stamper 330 onto which the pit pattern of the optical discdisc-master 320 has been inversely transferred is formed. The moldingand film forming apparatus 700 forms the disc substrate by using thestamper 330. Further, a coating film, such as a reflective film or thelike, and a protective film are coated onto the disc substrate, so thatthe recorded optical disc 360 is copied. The concave/convex patternformed on the optical disc disc-master 320 is transferred onto the discsubstrate and the pit pattern is formed. A compression molding, aninjection molding, a light hardening method, or the like is known as amethod of forming the disc substrate.

The recorded optical disc 360 formed by the conventional optical discforming system is not a recordable film but is a disc coated with thereflective film as a coating film and is a read only type, so thatadditional information cannot be recorded after the disc is formed.

In recent years, in order to manage the recorded optical disc 360 onwhich predetermined information data has been recorded, a method ofrecording additional information, such as a unique identification numberor the like, onto every recorded optical disc 360 is demanded. However,since the recorded optical disc 360 is manufactured by the foregoingforming step, it is difficult to record the additional information ontothe recorded optical disc 360 which is obtained after it is processed bythe molding and film forming apparatus 700 and on which thepredetermined information data has been recorded without exerting aninfluence on the recorded information data.

Therefore, the conventional methods proposed as systems for recordingthe additional information, such as an identification number or thelike, onto the recorded optical disc use a method of recording theadditional information by a system different from a recording modulationsystem of a main signal. However, the recorded optical disc 360 on whichthe additional information has been recorded by those methods cannot beread out by drives other than a drive having a dedicated readingfunction and the additional information cannot be read out by theexisting drives, so that there is a problem such that compatibility ispoor.

A BCA (Burst Cutting Area) has been defined in a DVD-ROM and theadditional information can be recorded there. However, such an area isprovided as another area different from a main signal (EFM+modulation)portion and cannot be read out by drives other than drives having thededicated reading function. The BCA is not applied to a DVD-Video or thelike.

As mentioned above, according to the optical discs such as CD and MDbased on the conventional standard and DVD disc excluding the DVD-ROM orthe like, after they are once recorded, additional information, such asan identification number or the like, cannot be recorded.

The invention is made in consideration of the problems mentioned above,and it is an object of the invention to provide an optical disc mediumon which additional information has been recorded onto a recordedoptical disc on the basis of the conventional standard and to provide adata recording method and apparatus.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To solve the foregoing problems, according to a feature of theinvention, there is provided an optical disc medium having a substrateon which a shape according to modulated information data has been formedand a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein a no-modulatinginterval is partially provided and predetermined postscript informationhas been recorded into the no-modulating interval by recording it to thecoating film.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided an opticaldisc medium having a substrate on which a shape according to informationdata modulated by a modulating method in which a minimum invertinginterval and a maximum inverting interval have been specified has beenformed and a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein predeterminedpostscript information has been recorded into predetermined recordedinformation data by recording it to the coating film so as not toinfringe the rule of the minimum inverting interval and the maximuminverting interval.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided an opticaldisc medium having a substrate on which a shape according to informationdata modulated by a modulating method in which a minimum invertinginterval and a maximum inverting interval have been specified has beenformed and a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein predeterminedpostscript information has been recorded into a predetermined intervalof recorded information data by recording it to the coating film so thatan error is detected upon reproduction.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided an opticaldisc medium having a substrate on which a shape according to informationdata modulated by a modulating method in which a minimum invertinginterval and a maximum inverting interval have been specified has beenformed and a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein after errorinformation which infringes the rule of the minimum inverting intervaland the maximum inverting interval was recorded in a predeterminedinterval, information to correct the error information so as to satisfythe rule was recorded in such an interval by recording it to the coatingfilm.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided an opticaldisc medium having a substrate on which a shape according to modulatedinformation data has been formed and a coating film formed on thesubstrate, wherein known data has been recorded in a predeterminedlocation, a part of the known data is rewritten by recording it to thecoating film, and desired information is recorded in accordance withwhether the rewriting has been performed or not.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to modulated information data has been formed and acoating film formed on the substrate, wherein a no-modulating intervalis partially provided and predetermined postscript information isrecorded into the no-modulating interval by recording it to the coatingfilm.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a datarecording apparatus for recording predetermined postscript informationinto a no-modulating interval by recording it to the coating film.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to information data modulated by a modulating method inwhich a minimum inverting interval and a maximum inverting interval havebeen specified has been formed and a coating film formed on thesubstrate, wherein predetermined postscript information is recorded intopredetermined recorded information data by recording it to the coatingfilm so as not to infringe the rule of the minimum inverting intervaland the maximum inverting interval.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a datarecording apparatus for recording predetermined postscript informationto a coating film.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to information data modulated by a modulating method inwhich a minimum inverting interval and a maximum inverting interval havebeen specified has been formed and a coating film formed on thesubstrate, wherein predetermined postscript information is recorded intoa predetermined interval of recorded information data by recording it tothe coating film so that an error is detected upon reproduction.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a datarecording apparatus for recording predetermined postscript informationto a coating film so that an error is detected upon reproduction.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to information data modulated by a modulating method inwhich a minimum inverting interval and a maximum inverting interval havebeen specified has been formed and a coating film formed on thesubstrate, wherein after error information which infringes the rule ofthe minimum inverting interval and the maximum inverting interval wasrecorded in a predetermined interval, information to correct the errorinformation so as to satisfy the rule was recorded in such an intervalby recording it to the coating film.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a datarecording apparatus for recording information to correct errorinformation so as to satisfy a rule to a coating film after the errorinformation was recorded.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to modulated information data has been formed and acoating film formed on the substrate, wherein known data is recorded ina predetermined location, a part of the known data is rewritten byrecording it to the coating film, and desired information is recorded inaccordance with whether the rewriting has been performed or not.

According to a feature of the invention, there is provided a datarecording apparatus for rewriting a part of known data and recordingdesired information in accordance with whether rewriting has beenperformed or not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a constructional diagram of an optical disc forming systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a signal format of a CD.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a first postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a second postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the second postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a third postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a fourth postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of subcoding data;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a fifth postscriptinformation recording method according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a constructional diagram of an existing optical disc formingsystem.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinbelow withreference to the drawings. Since the embodiments which will be describedhereinbelow are preferred embodiments of the invention, variouslimitations which are technically preferable are added to them. However,the scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments unlessthere is particularly a disclosure which limits the invention in thefollowing explanation.

FIG. 1 is a constructional diagram of an optical disc forming system towhich the invention is applied. The optical disc forming step accordingto the invention mainly comprises: a mastering step of forming adisc-master of an optical disc by a laser beam; a molding and filmforming step of forming a number of disc substrates by using a stamperformed from the disc-master of the optical disc and forming a film ontoeach disc substrate; and a postscript step.

A mastering apparatus to form the disc-master 320 of the optical disccomprises the EFM signal transmitting apparatus 500 and the laser beamrecorder 600. The molding and film forming apparatus 700 molds a discsubstrate from the stamper 330, made on the basis of the optical discdisc-master 320, and forms a coating film, for example, a reflectivefilm, onto the disc substrate, thereby forming a recorded optical disc360. A postscript apparatus 200 writes postscript information once ontoan optical disc 340 formed by the molding and film forming apparatus700.

The optical disc disc-master 320 is formed by coating a photoresist as aphotosensitive material onto a glass plate. The laser beam recorder 600irradiates a laser beam onto the optical disc disc-master 320 inaccordance with a signal from a modulation signal transmitting apparatus100. The photoresist film is developed and in the case of thepositive-type resist, the photosensitized portion is melted, aconcave/convex pattern is formed on the photoresist film, and a pittrain, a groove, or the like according to a predetermined format isformed on the surface of the optical disc disc-master 320.

Subsequently, on the basis of the optical disc disc-master 320, a diecalled a stamper 330 onto which the pit pattern of the optical discdisc-master 320 has been inversely transferred is formed. The moldingand film forming apparatus 700 forms the disc substrate by using thestamper 330. Further, a coating film and a protective film are coatedonto the disc substrate, so that the recorded optical disc 340 isformed. The concave/convex pattern formed on the optical discdisc-master 320 is transferred onto the disc substrate and the pitpattern is formed. The compression molding, injection molding, lighthardening method, or the like is known as a method of forming the discsubstrate.

The modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 comprises: a recordinginformation reproducing unit 110 for reading information data which isrecorded onto the optical disc from the master optical disc 310 andreproducing it; a modulation information forming unit 120 for convertingthe reproduced information data into modulation data in a predeterminedformat; a modulation information storing unit 130 for storing themodulation data information; and a modulation signal output unit 140 foroutputting a modulation signal.

The recording information reproducing unit 110 sequentially reproducesthe predetermined information data recorded on the master optical disc310 from a whole area and sends the reproduced information data to themodulation information forming unit 120. The master optical disc 310 isa master media (information source), such as a CD-R or the like, and thepredetermined information data which is recorded onto the optical discdisc-master 320 has been recorded there. The predetermined informationdata is arbitrary information data, such as music data, video data,program, or the like. The recording information reproducing unit 110executes, for example, an encoding process of error correction encoding.

The modulation information forming unit 120 converts the reproducedinformation data into data in a predetermined format and, further,executes a predetermined digital modulating process. For example, datain the data format of the CD is formed, and EFM modulation is executedto the data. The formed modulation data is stored into the modulationinformation storing unit 130 and outputted to the modulation signaloutput unit 140. The modulation data is data of a bit pattern of 1/0 ina predetermined format. As necessary, the modulation information formingunit 120 refers to postscript related information 410 regarding thepostscript process, such as designation or the like, of an area where apostscript process is executed.

The modulation information storing unit 130 stores the modulation dataformed by the modulation information forming unit 120. The modulationsignal output unit 140 forms the modulation signal by outputting themodulation data formed by the modulation information forming unit 120 inresponse to a predetermined clock and outputs it to the laser beamrecorder 600.

The laser beam recorder 600 modulates the intensity of the laser beam onthe basis of the modulation signal from the modulation signaltransmitting apparatus 100, irradiates it onto the optical discdisc-master 320, and records the information data. The stamper 330 isformed on the basis of the optical disc disc-master 320.

By using the stamper 330, the molding and film forming apparatus 700copies the recorded optical disc 340 on which the information data hasbeen recorded. Although the information data has already been recordedon the recorded optical disc 340 as mentioned above, this disc is anoptical disc in a state where the postscript information is not recordedyet.

The postscript apparatus 200 comprises: a modulation information storingunit 210 for storing the postscript related information 410 ormodulation data; a postscript control unit 220 for controlling apostscript process; and a postscript unit 230 for performing thepostscript process to the optical disc 340 in accordance with thepostscript control unit 220.

The modulation information storing unit 210 is a storing unit forstoring the postscript related information 410 used by the modulationsignal transmitting apparatus 100 or the modulation data formed by themodulation signal transmitting apparatus 100. The postscript controlunit 220 controls so as to calculate an area for recording postscriptinformation 420 and write the postscript information 420 once into thisarea on the basis of the postscript related information 410 or themodulation data. In accordance with the postscript control unit 220, thepostscript unit 230 irradiates a laser beam of a high power onto theoptical disc 340, so that an optical disc 350 on which the postscriptinformation 420 has been recorded is formed. The postscript information420 is, for example, arbitrary information such as information regardingthe optical disc 340 or the like. In the postscript apparatus 200, thepostscript information 420 also can be changed every optical disc 340and, for instance, unique identification information which enables eachoptical disc 340 to be identified also can be postscribed.

The operation of the optical disc forming system having such aconstruction and an optical disc forming method will be described.

In the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, the recordinginformation reproducing unit 110 reproduces the information datarecorded on the master optical disc 310 and sends it to the modulationinformation forming unit 120. The modulation information forming unit120 converts the reproduced information data into a predetermined formatwith reference to the postscript related information 410 as necessary,thereby forming modulation data. The modulation data are stored into themodulation information storing unit 130, sent to the modulation signaloutput unit 140, and outputted as a modulation signal to the laser beamrecorder 600.

The laser beam recorder 600 irradiates the laser beam onto thephotoresist of the optical disc disc-master 320 in accordance with themodulation signal. Subsequently, the optical disc disc-master 320 isdeveloped and the stamper 330 is formed on the basis of thephotosensitive pattern. The molding and film forming apparatus 700 moldsa disc substrate by using the stamper 330 and, further, forms a filmonto the disc substrate, thereby forming the optical disc 340. Theoptical disc 340 on which the information data has been recorded isformed by the steps described so far.

In the subsequent postscript apparatus 200, the postscript relatedinformation 410 or the modulation signal data pattern used by themodulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 has been stored previouslyin the modulation information storing unit 210. The postscript controlunit 220 controls the postscript unit 230 so as to calculate the areafor recording the postscript information 420 and write the postscriptinformation 420 once into this area on the basis of the postscriptrelated information 410 or the modulation data. In accordance with thepostscript control unit 220, the postscript unit 230 irradiates thelaser beam whose intensity has been modulated in accordance with thedata of the postscript information 420 onto the optical disc 340,thereby forming the optical disc 350.

Although the postscript related information 410 is referred to asnecessary on the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 side asmentioned above, the modulation signal is formed by a modulating processsimilar to the conventional one. The optical disc 340 is formed on thebasis of this modulation signal. In the postscript apparatus 200, anarea for recording the postscript information 420 is calculated and thepostscript information 420 is recorded in accordance with the postscriptrelated information 410 or the modulation data. Since the postscriptinformation 420 can be arbitrarily set, individual identificationinformation can be inserted into the recorded optical disc of theconventional modulation system. The postscript information, such asidentification information or the like, whose recording has beendifficult in the conventional system can be recorded onto the recordedoptical disc as mentioned above, so that use fields of the optical disccan be widened.

Since the postscript information which is postscribed is recorded in theconventional format, it can be read out without remodeling a reproducingapparatus (player, drive, etc.) and without a special circuit. Further,by adding the postscript apparatus without changing the existing step ofmanufacturing the optical discs, the postscript process can beperformed.

A specific recording method of the postscript information will now bedescribed by using an example of a CD. FIG. 2 shows a data constructionof one frame of the CD. In the CD, a parity Q and a parity P, eachconsisting of 4 symbols, are formed from a total of 12 samples (24symbols) of digital audio data of 2 channels. One symbol of a subcode isadded to the total of 32 symbols, and the resultant 33 symbols (264 databits) are handled as one group. That is, 33 symbols comprising thesubcode of 1 symbol, data of 24 symbols, the Q parity of 4 symbols, andthe P parity of 4 symbols are included in one frame obtained after theEFM modulation.

In the EFM, each symbol (8 data bits) is converted into 14 channel bits.A minimum inverting interval (inverting interval in which the number of0 between 1 and 1 of the recording signal is the minimum) Tmin of theEFM modulation is equal to 3T. A pit length corresponding to 3T is equalto 0.87 μm. A pit length corresponding to T is the shortest pit length.A maximum inverting interval (inverting interval in which the number of0 between 1 and 1 of the recording signal is the maximum) Tmax is equalto 11T. Also, in the case of connecting 14 bits and 14 bits, margin bits(also called coupling bits) of 3 bits are arranged between the 14channel bits and the 14 channel bits in order to satisfy the run lengthrestricting conditions of Tmin=3T and Tmax=11T mentioned above. Fourkinds of patterns of (000), (001), (010), and (100) are prepared asmargin bits. Further, a frame sync pattern is added to the head of theframe. Assuming that a period of the channel bits is equal to T, theframe sync pattern is set to a pattern in which 11T, 11T, and 2Tcontinue. According to the EFM modulation rule, since such a pattern isnot caused, it enables a frame sync to be detected by a specificpattern. The total number of bits of one frame is equal to 588 channelbits. A frame frequency is equal to 7.35 kHz.

98 frames are called a subcode frame (or subcode block). The subcodeframe in which 98 frames are rearranged so as to be continuous in thevertical direction and shown is constructed by: a frame sync portion toidentify the head of the subcode frame; a subcode portion; and a dataand parity portion. The subcode frame corresponds to 1/75 second of areproducing time of the ordinary CD.

The subcode portion is formed by 98 frames. Each of the head two framesin the subcode portion is a sync pattern of the subcode frame and isalso a pattern of “out of rule” of the EFM. The respective bits in thesubcode portion construct P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W channels.

Several examples of the recording method of the postscript informationaccording to the invention will now be explained sequentially.

The first recording method of the postscript information is a methodwhereby in the modulation signal transmitting apparatus, the modulationsignal in which the no-modulating interval is provided in an arbitraryinterval of the modulation signal is formed at the time of themodulation of the information data and an optical disc is manufactured,and the postscript information is recorded in the no-modulating intervalby the postscript apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the first postscript informationrecording method according to the invention.

In the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, informationregarding the no-modulating interval which is inserted into themodulation data (hereinafter, properly called an EFM signal) is obtainedfrom the postscript related information 410. In which position of theEFM data the no-modulating interval is inserted and how manyno-modulating intervals are inserted are arbitrarily set and are notspecified. However, they are set in a manner such that a tracking servocan be performed to the optical disc 340 in which the no-modulatingintervals have been inserted, that is, the continuous no-modulatingintervals are set to a band below a band of the tracking servo. A methodfor such a tracking is not particularly limited.

In the example of FIG. 3, the subcoding portion of 8 bits in the casebefore the EFM modulation and 14 channel bits in the case after themodulation is set to the no-modulating interval. The no-modulatingintervals can be provided in arbitrary positions in the subcodingportion and the data portion excluding the sync pattern. A plurality ofno-modulating intervals also can be provided at certain regularintervals or at random intervals. In accordance with such postscriptrelated information 410, the modulation information forming unit 120forms the EFM signal in which the no-modulating intervals are providedin a part of the EFM data pattern and outputs it to the laser beamrecorder 600. A waveform of the EFM signal which is outputted to thelaser beam recorder 600, that is the EFM signal recorded onto theoptical disc disc-master 320 is set so that a signal level of thesubcoding portion is equal to 0. In the optical disc 340 which ismanufactured in accordance with it, no pit exists in the subcodingportion serving as a no-modulating interval. That is, the whole area ofsuch a portion becomes a land area.

In the postscript apparatus 200, the postscript related information 410is obtained and stored in the modulation information storing unit 210.The postscript control unit 220 executes the EFM modulation to thepostscript information 420, controls the postscript unit 230 forgenerating the laser beam of a high power so that the EFM signal isrecorded in the interval corresponding to the subcoding portion, andforms pits into the subcoding portion. The pits shown as hatchedportions in FIG. 3 indicate the pits formed by the postscriptinformation. In the optical disc 350 as a product to which theinformation has been postscribed by the postscript apparatus 200, themodulation signal of the postscript information 420 has been recorded inthe interval corresponding to the subcoding portion.

In the example of FIG. 3, a pattern of 14 channel bits after thepostscript process becomes (01001000100100). The level of the EFM signalis inverted at the position of 1 of the channel bit. The 14 channel bitsare obtained by EFM modulating the symbol of 8 bits of 40h. h denotes ahexadecimal notation, and a pattern of 8 bits is (01000000). In thedecimal notation, 8 bits is equal to a value “64”. An example in whichthe information bits locating after the subcoding portion via the marginbits of 3 bits are 00h is shown.

The postscript information modulated by the same modulation system canbe recorded onto the optical disc in which the modulation signal of theinformation data has been recorded as presence or absence of the pit ofthe coating film as mentioned above. By recording different data aspostscript information every disc, they can be read out asidentification information of the optical disc. From the optical disc asa postscribed product, the modulation signal of the postscriptinformation can be reproduced together with the modulation signal of theinformation data by a reproducing apparatus corresponding to theconventional EFM modulation. As mentioned above, the individualidentification information can be reproduced without the need to providea special circuit for reading out the individual identificationinformation for the reproducing apparatus.

In the above description, although the no-modulating intervals have beeninserted into the EFM data of the information data, a servo-dedicatedmodulating interval in which modulation only for use of the servo isexecuted also can be used in place of the no-modulating interval. Inthis case, the postscript related information 410 is information todesignate the modulating interval which is inserted into an arbitraryinterval of the modulation signal data pattern and in which theservo-dedicated modulation has been performed. The modulationinformation forming unit 120 of the modulation signal transmittingapparatus 100 forms the modulation signal data in which a part of themodulation signal data pattern is set to the servo-dedicated modulatinginterval only for use of the servo in accordance with the postscriptrelated information. The postscript control unit 220 of the postscriptapparatus 200 makes control so as to postscript the modulation signal ofthe postscript information into the servo-dedicated modulating intervalon the basis of the postscript-related information. The intensity of themodulation signal in the servo-dedicated modulating interval is set soas to lie within an intensity range where the recorded optical discwhich was postscribed by the postscript apparatus 200 can be read out.

The second postscript information recording method according to theinvention now will be described. According to the second recordingmethod, the EFM signal in which the information data has been modulatedis formed in the modulation signal transmitting apparatus, the opticaldisc on which the EFM signal has been recorded is formed by themastering step and the molding and film forming step, and the postscriptinformation is recorded in an arbitrary interval by the postscriptapparatus with reference to the EFM data formed by the modulation signaltransmitting apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the second postscript informationrecording method according to the invention.

In the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, the EFM modulationis executed to the information data and the EFM data are formed and sentto the postscript apparatus 200. In the postscript apparatus 200, theEFM data pattern is stored in the modulation information storing unit210. The EFM signal formed by a process similar to the conventional oneis outputted from the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, andthe optical disc disc-master 320 is formed. The pit of the recordedoptical disc 340 formed by the optical disc disc-master 320 correspondsto a portion shown as an ellipse in FIG. 4.

In the postscript control unit 220 of the postscript apparatus 200, thearea for recording the modulation signal of the postscript information420 is calculated with reference to the EFM data pattern held in themodulation information storing unit 210. Although an arbitrary method isused as a method of calculating the area, even in the case where themodulation signal of the postscript information 420 has beenpostscribed, an area where the run-length restricting conditions of theEFM are not broken is selected.

In the example of FIG. 4, an interval of the margin bits (3 channelbits), information bits (14 channel bits), margin bits (3 channel bits),and information bits (14 channel bits) is shown. An interval where thepattern of the channel bits repeats (000010010001000000) is shown. Thatis, an interval where 4T=0, 3T=1, 4T=0, and 6T=1 (T indicates onechannel clock and 4T=0 denotes that 0 continues in a 4T interval) arerepeated is selected.

By performing the postscript process to an area after 3T=1, the portionsof 3T=1 and 4T=0 are changed to 4T=1 and 3T=0. That is, by postscribingthe pit shown as a hatched region to the pit of 3T shown as an ellipse,the pit of 4T is formed. Thus, the EFM signal of the information bit=0is changed to the information bit=192 (14 channel bitpattern=01000100100000). The postscribed EFM signal can be normally readout on the reproducing apparatus side. In the apparatus on thereproducing side, both the information data and the postscriptinformation 420 can be obtained on the basis of information showing inwhich interval the postscript information 420 has been inserted.

According to the invention as mentioned above, the information can bepostscribed to the optical disc recorded in the conventional format.

Although it is assumed in the description that a process is notparticularly executed on the modulation signal transmitting apparatus100 side, the postscript related information 410, such as conditions,interval, etc., for recording the postscript information 420 also can bepreset into the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100. Thus, atthe time of the modulation regarding the postscript related information410, that is, the information data of the interval where the postscriptprocess is executed later, the modulation information forming unit 120of the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 can select the EFMdata pattern which takes into consideration the execution of thepostscript process. The postscript apparatus 200 side also executes thepostscript process of the postscript information 420 on the basis of thepostscript related information 410.

Subsequently, an example of the original EFM data pattern in which thepostscript information recording method of changing the data andrecording the postscript information can be performed as mentioned abovewill be explained. FIG. 5 shows another example of data to which thesecond postscript information recording method according to theinvention can be applied.

In the postscript apparatus 200, the postscript information 420 isrecorded by forming pits to land portions by irradiating the laser beamof the high power. The postscript apparatus 200 irradiates the highpower laser beam to a land area in the EFM data interval comprising thepit area and the land area which are formed on the optical disc 340 inaccordance with such an EFM signal data pattern, thereby converting intoone pit area. In the EFM, since the pit area or the land area has to beformed in a range from 3T to 11T, the original EFM data pattern in whichthe postscript information 420 can be recorded becomes a data patternsuch that it has an array of the pit area of 3T, 4T, or 5T, the landarea of 3T, 4T, or 5T, and the pit area of 3T, 4T, or 5T, and the sum ofthe pit area, the land area, and the pit area is equal to or less than11T. In the postscript apparatus 200, the high power laser beam isirradiated to the land area of the EM data pattern of such an array andthe EFM data pattern is changed so that the whole pattern becomes onepit. Specifically speaking, as an original EFM data pattern in whichsuch a change is possible, there are the following ten patterns and eachof them can be rewritten as follows.

-   -   (1) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 9T pit.    -   (2) An EFM data pattern of a 4T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 10T pit.    -   (3) An EFM data pattern of a 5T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 11T pit.    -   (4) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 4T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 10T pit.    -   (5) An EFM data pattern of a 4T pit area, a 4T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 11T pit.    -   (6) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 5T land area, and a        3T pit area is set to a 11T pit.    -   (7) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        4T pit area is set to a 10T pit.    -   (8) An EFM data pattern of a 4T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        4T pit area is set to a 11T pit.    -   (9) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 4T land area, and a        4T pit area is set to a 11T pit.    -   (10) An EFM data pattern of a 3T pit area, a 3T land area, and a        5T pit area is set to a 11T pit.

In the example of FIG. 5, in the portion comprising the land area of the3T pit area, 3T land area, and 4T pit area shown by ellipses, byexecuting the postscript process to the land area of 3T by thepostscript apparatus 200, the pit of 10T is formed.

The third postscript information recording method according to theinvention now will be described. According to the third postscriptinformation recording method, in a manner similar to the secondpostscript information recording method, the EFM signal in which theinformation data has been modulated is formed in the modulation signaltransmitting apparatus 100 and the optical disc 340 is formed. In thepostscript apparatus 200, the EFM data pattern formed by the modulationsignal transmitting apparatus 100 is referred to and the informationdata is recorded so that an error is generated in the EFM signal in anarbitrary interval in accordance with the postscript information 420.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the third postscript informationrecording method according to the invention.

In the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, by executing theEFM modulation to the reproduced information data, the EFM data patternis formed and sent to the postscript apparatus 200. In the postscriptapparatus 200, the EFM data pattern is stored into the modulationinformation storing unit 210. The EFM signal formed by a process similarto the conventional one is generated from the modulation signaltransmitting apparatus 100 and the optical disc disc-master 320 isformed. The pit on the optical disc 340 formed by the optical discdisc-master 320 corresponds to the portion shown by the ellipse in FIG.6. In the postscript control unit 220 of the postscript apparatus 200,the EFM data held in the modulation information storing unit 210 isreferred to and the information data is postscribed so that an error isgenerated in a predetermined interval. This interval can be set to anarbitrary interval, that is, a continuous interval or an interval whichis selected in accordance with predetermined conditions.

In the example of FIG. 6, since the information bits are equal to “0”,as a result of the EFM modulation, an information bit interval of 4T=0,3T=1, 4T=0, and 6T=1 is formed. By performing the postscript process tothe portion of 4T=0 in the information bit interval, they are changed to1T=0, 2T=1, and 1T=0. That is, a pit corresponding to 2T=1 shown by ahatched region is postscribed to the land corresponding to 4T=0 betweenthe pits corresponding to 3T=1 and 6T=1.

As mentioned above, since the EFM has been predetermined so as tosatisfy the conditions of Tmin=3T and Tmax=11T, when the invertingintervals are changed to 1T, 2T, and 1T, an EFM error is generated. Inthe postscript control unit 220, whether errors are generated in aplurality of predetermined intervals in accordance with the postscriptinformation 420 or not is discriminated, thereby controlling thepostscript process. That is, on the reproducing apparatus side, whetherthe errors have been generated in certain predetermined intervals or notis detected, thereby obtaining the postscript information 420. Forexample, the case where the error is generated is assumed to be 1 andthe case where no error is generated is assumed to be 0. The postscriptinformation 420 is reproduced in dependence on the presence or absenceof the error.

Although the embodiment has been described with respect to the case ofgenerating the EFM error, an arbitrary kind of error can be generated.For example, the postscript process also can be executed so that anerror due to an error correction code in a certain interval isgenerated. According to the invention as mentioned above, the postscriptinformation also can be recorded onto the optical disc recorded inaccordance with the conventional standard.

The fourth postscript information recording method according to theinvention will now be described. According to the fourth postscriptinformation recording method, the EFM signal in which the EFM error isgenerated in an arbitrary interval of the EFM signal upon modulation ofthe information data is formed in the modulation signal transmittingapparatus 100 and the optical disc 340 on which the EFM signal has beenrecorded is formed. In the postscript apparatus 200, the EFM data formedby the modulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 is referred to andthe information data is recorded so that the error in the arbitraryinterval is correctly recovered in accordance with the postscriptinformation 420, thereby forming the optical disc 350.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the fourth postscript informationrecording method according to the invention.

According to this recording method, on the modulation signaltransmitting apparatus 100 side, the postscript related information 410,such as conditions, interval, etc. for recording the postscriptinformation 420, is preset into the modulation signal transmittingapparatus 100. The modulation information forming unit 120 of themodulation signal transmitting apparatus 100 provides a blank interval(interval where no pit is formed) for a part of the EFM data uponmodulation regarding the postscript related information 410, that is,the information data of the interval where the postscript process isexecuted, and forms the EFM data such that the EFM error is generated.In the example of FIG. 7, an interval of 2T=1 is set to a position afterthe blank interval of 8T=0 and the EFM signal such that the EFM error isgenerated is formed. The optical disc disc-master 320 is formed on thebasis of the EFM signal. The optical disc 340 is formed by the opticaldisc disc-master 320. On the optical disc 340, a pit corresponding to2T=1 is formed.

In the postscript apparatus 200, the postscript related information 410is referred to and the postscript process is executed so as to correctthe EFM error in accordance with the postscript information 420. In theexample of FIG. 7, in the interval of 4T, a pit is postscribed as shownby a hatched region before the pit which forms 2T=1, thereby changing2T=1 to 6T=1. Thus, the EFM error is corrected. In the postscriptcontrol unit 220, whether the EFM errors are corrected in a plurality oferror intervals which have previously been formed in accordance with thepostscript information 420 or not is discriminated, thereby controllingthe postscript process. That is, in the reproducing apparatus forreproducing the postscribed optical disc 350, whether the EFM error hasbeen generated in a certain predetermined interval or not is detected,thereby obtaining the postscript information 420. For example, byallowing the case where the EFM error is not corrected to correspond to1 of the postscript information and allowing the case where the EFMerror has been corrected to correspond to 0, the postscript information420 is obtained in dependence on the presence or absence of the error.

The fifth postscript information recording method according to theinvention now will be described.

According to the fifth postscript-information recording method, in themodulation signal transmitting apparatus 100, the EFM signal such thatpredetermined data is generated in the EFM data corresponding to theinformation data in a predetermined interval is formed, and the opticaldisc 340 in which the predetermined data has been recorded ismanufactured. In the postscript apparatus 200, the postscript process isexecuted so as to rewrite data in an arbitrary area where thepredetermined data has been recorded in accordance with the postscriptinformation 420, and the optical disc 350 is formed.

For example, in the signal format of the CD, as described in FIG. 2, thesubcoding of one symbol is recorded in one frame. The subcodings of 98frames are collected, thereby forming one subcoding block. FIG. 8 is aconstructional diagram of the subcoding block. The data of 8 bits is setto P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W, respectively. For example, by presettingall data in the P to W channels excluding the Q channel data in thesubcoding block to 0 and by presetting only the Q channel data to 1 or 0in accordance with the postscript information, the postscriptinformation can be recorded onto the optical disc. That is, either astate where 8 bits of P to W are set to (00000000) or a state where theyare set to (01000000) can be selected by the postscript process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the fifth postscript informationrecording method according to the invention.

After the modulation by the modulation signal transmitting apparatus100, information data is preset so that the subcoding portion is set to40h ((01000000) in the pattern of 8 bits). 14 channel bits of the EFMsignal corresponding to 40h are set to (01001000100100). Incorrespondence to those 14 channel bits, pits are formed on the opticaldisc 340. In the Q channel data at this stage, all 96 bits of thesubcoding block are equal to 1.

In the postscript apparatus 200, the postscript process is executed sothat arbitrary bits among the 96 bits of the Q channel data are set to 0in accordance with the postscript information 420. Specificallyspeaking, the laser beam is irradiated to the land between the pit of 3Tand the pit of the margin bits, thereby forming the pit of 6T. The EFMdata after completion of the postscript process becomes(01001000100000). It corresponds to 00h in the case of the data of 8bits. That is, the Q channel data are changed from 0 to 1 by thepostscript process. In this manner, 96 bits of the Q channel data can beset to arbitrary data and the postscript information 420 can berecorded. Particularly, since the subcoding data of the channels otherthan the Q channel is not changed, only the Q channel data can bechanged. Besides the example of changing 40h to 00h, 47h can also bechanged to 07h.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments or the like of theinvention mentioned above, but various modifications and applicationsare possible within the scope without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For example, although the molding and film forming apparatusand the postscript apparatus have been constructed as differentapparatuses in the foregoing description, the postscript apparatus canalso be assembled into the molding and film forming apparatus. Further,it is also possible to provide a plurality of postscript apparatuses andexecute the postscript processes in parallel. Although the pits areformed by the high power laser as recording of the postscriptinformation in the above description, it is also possible to constructin a manner such that a change in reflectance is caused on the surfaceof the optical disc by the high power laser and, when the optical discis reproduced by the reproducing apparatus, a reproduction signal whichis equal to the pit is obtained.

As described above, in the optical disc forming system of the invention,the postscript information modulated in a manner similar to the formatof the information data can be recorded to the recorded optical discformed in the molding and film forming apparatus. As mentioned above,according to the invention, the postscript information can be recordedto the recorded optical disc formed in the optical disc producing stepsimilar to that of the existing system. Since arbitrary information canbe used as postscript information, for example, identificationinformation can be recorded to the optical disc. Thus, use applicationsof the optical disc are widened. According to the invention, there is anadvantage such that there is no need to change the existing optical discproducing step. Further, there is an advantage such that the postscribedinformation can be read out without remodeling the reproducing apparatusor using a special circuit and the compatibility is not lost.

1. An optical disc medium having a substrate on which a shape accordingto modulated information data has been formed and a coating film formedon the substrate, wherein a no-modulating interval is partially providedand predetermined postscript information has been recorded into saidno-modulating interval by recording said predetermined postscriptinformation to said coating film.
 2. An optical disc medium according toclaim 1, wherein said information data is main information.
 3. Anoptical disc medium according to claim 1, wherein said information datais secondary information for control.
 4. An optical disc mediumaccording to claim 1, wherein said postscript information is discidentification information. 5-8. (canceled)
 9. An optical disc mediumhaving a substrate on which a shape according to information datamodulated by a modulating method in which a minimum inverting intervaland a maximum inverting interval have been specified has been formed anda coating film formed on the substrate, wherein predetermined postscriptinformation has been recorded into a predetermined interval of recordedinformation data by recording said predetermined postscript informationto said coating film so that an error is detected upon reproduction. 10.An optical disc medium according to claim 9, wherein postscriptinformation which infringes the rule of said minimum inverting intervaland said maximum inverting interval is recorded, thereby allowing theerror to be detected upon reproduction.
 11. An optical disc mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein the postscript information is recorded sothat the error is detected upon reproduction by an error correction codewhich is applied to said information data.
 12. An optical disc mediumaccording to claim 9, wherein in said predetermined interval, saidpostscript information is expressed by a combination of a portion wheresaid error is detected and a portion where no error is detected.
 13. Anoptical disc medium according to claim 9, wherein said information datais main information.
 14. An optical disc medium according to claim 9,wherein said information data is secondary information for control. 15.An optical disc medium according to claim 9, wherein said postscriptinformation is disc identification information.
 16. An optical discmedium having a substrate on which a shape according to information datamodulated by a modulating method in which a minimum inverting intervaland a maximum inverting interval have been specified has been formed anda coating film formed on the substrate, wherein after error informationwhich infringes the rule of said minimum inverting interval and saidmaximum inverting interval was recorded in a predetermined interval,information to correct said error information so as to satisfy said rulehas been recorded in such an interval by recording it to said coatingfilm.
 17. An optical disc medium according to claim 16, wherein in saidpredetermined interval, said secondary information is expressed by acombination of a portion where said error information has been recordedand a portion where postscript information to correct said errorinformation has been recorded.
 18. An optical disc medium according toclaim 16, wherein said information data is main information.
 19. Anoptical disc medium according to claim 16, wherein said information datais secondary information for control.
 20. An optical disc mediumaccording to claim 16, wherein said postscript information is discidentification information. 21-24. (canceled)
 25. A data recordingmethod of forming an optical disc medium having a substrate on which ashape according to modulated information data has been formed and acoating film formed on the substrate, wherein a no-modulating intervalis partially provided and predetermined postscript information isrecorded into said no-modulating interval by recording saidpredetermined postscript information to said coating film. 26.(canceled)
 27. A data recording method of forming an optical disc mediumhaving a substrate on which a shape according to information datamodulated by a modulating method in which a minimum inverting intervaland a maximum inverting interval have been specified has been formed anda coating film formed on the substrate, wherein predetermined postscriptinformation is recorded into a predetermined interval of recordedinformation data by recording said predetermined postscript informationto said coating film so that an error is detected upon reproduction. 28.A data recording method of forming an optical disc medium having asubstrate on which a shape according to information data modulated by amodulating method in which a minimum inverting interval and a maximuminverting interval have been specified has been formed and a coatingfilm formed on the substrate, wherein after error information whichinfringes the rule of said minimum inverting interval and said maximuminverting interval was recorded in a predetermined interval, informationto correct said error information so as to satisfy said rule is recordedin such an interval by recording it to said coating film.
 29. (canceled)30. A data recording apparatus for forming an optical disc medium havinga substrate on which a shape according to modulated information data hasbeen formed and a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein ano-modulating interval is partially provided and predeterminedpostscript information is recorded into said no-modulating interval byrecording said predetermined postscript information to said coatingfilm.
 31. (canceled)
 32. A data recording apparatus for forming anoptical disc medium having a substrate on which a shape according toinformation data modulated by a modulating method in which a minimuminverting interval and a maximum inverting interval have been specifiedhas been formed and a coating film formed on the substrate, whereinpredetermined postscript information is recorded into a predeterminedinterval of recorded information data by recording said predeterminedpostscript information to said coating film so that an error is detectedupon reproduction.
 33. A data recording apparatus for forming an opticaldisc medium having a substrate on which a shape according to informationdata modulated by a modulating method in which a minimum invertinginterval and a maximum inverting interval have been specified has beenformed and a coating film formed on the substrate, wherein after errorinformation which infringes the rule of said minimum inverting intervaland said maximum inverting interval was recorded in a predeterminedinterval, information to correct said error information so as to satisfysaid rule is recorded in such an interval by recording it to saidcoating film.
 34. (canceled)
 35. The optical disk medium according toclaim 1, wherein said no-modulating interval is inserted arbitrarilyinto said modulated information and set in a manner such that a trackingservo can be performed to said optical disk medium.
 36. The datarecording method of forming an optical disk medium according to claim25, wherein said no-modulating interval is inserted arbitrarily intosaid modulated information and set in a manner such that a trackingservo can be performed to said optical disk medium.
 37. The datarecording apparatus for forming an optical disk medium according toclaim 30, wherein said no-modulating interval is inserted arbitrarilyinto said modulated information and set in a manner such that a trackingservo can be performed to said optical disk medium.